Messages - dbr

I suppose argument could be made for/against changing gearbox fluid.Assuming it's an automatic?Maybe remove level/fill plug from side of gearbox and check colour and smell of present fluid and go from there?

Sorry...its a manual, just thought 21years is a long time for oil. 146k miles

As money puts go it looks smart, I think the money pit thing is a right of passage on here!

Aint that the truth. In less than 18 months after buying mine I spent over £1600 on it. It looks almost exactly the same as it did when I bought it, but it drives nicely and hopefully wont surprise me with any big bills in the future.Logic says its madness to do this to a 15 year old, 180k miles car, but on the other hand, what else could I have bought that would have been as good a car for the money Ive spent ?

Yup.... Mines 21 and I have been complemented on how well it rides. BMW quality.

Hi,As our baby has now reached 21 and I have retired it's time (when it's warm) to start doing some of the jobs that have been put off and off. But as the miles have been very low 1000 for the last 5 /6 yrs I don't think there will be too many problems. Gearbox oil. Diff oil. Both original..worth changing? All other fluids which are about 3 years old will be done. Vacuum pipes? There has to be a leak somewhere as the air inside the car stops blowing in when the engine is under load, uphill. Bonnet and boot struts just done. What a difference.Getting some bits of rust now in the usual places, but looking forward to many more years of luxury

Are there any week points to the cooling system on the left hand side of the V6 and if so what are they?Itís leaking from somewhere up between the back of the exhaust manifold and fire wall and we couldnít see exactly where

Keep your heater on hot and it will slow the leak down. Wait for warmer weather

Oops! apologies.....roached... roughly translated, beyond saving.Couldn't quite see wether the paint is just dull due to standing out in the Welsh Wales weather and would possibly respond to a wash and a thorough detailing.

It's the tensioners that tend to fail, not the belt. As they normally give no warning, and a visual inspection requires removing the belt and doesn't tell you very much, replacement is the correct procedure.

But, at only 5k miles, I wouldn't be too worried about changing it yet if it were my car.